EPTHas anyone heard of anything like this and more importantly, under what conditions could this happen and how would you get around it? I really would like to visit Korea at least once and most certainly before I am 35... And quite obviously, the idea of being drafted into the Korean military doesn't really appeal to me.
[Q] I'm thinking of going to Korea, but...
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HeartOfTofu
United States308 Posts
Has anyone heard of anything like this and more importantly, under what conditions could this happen and how would you get around it? I really would like to visit Korea at least once and most certainly before I am 35... And quite obviously, the idea of being drafted into the Korean military doesn't really appeal to me. | ||
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ghostWriter
United States3302 Posts
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BuGzlToOnl
United States5918 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:05 ghostWriter wrote: It's happened before. Such and informative and useful post. =\ | ||
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old times sake
165 Posts
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Fontong
United States6454 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:13 BuGzlToOnl wrote: Such and informative and useful post. =\ It's ghostwriter. Normally you would expect him to insult too, so it's really an improvement. | ||
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Amnesia
United States3818 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:18 Fontong wrote: It's ghostwriter. Normally you would expect him to insult too, so it's really an improvement. What? Stuff like this has happened before in these forums and also Ghostwriter has helped this forum with translations and such..he's not that bad of a poster o.O | ||
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HeartOfTofu
United States308 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:16 old times sake wrote: Have you thought about going there so you can be drafted? Military service can be a good thing. No, I'd rather not have my life put on hold for a few years to serve in the military of a country I've never even been to... especially if I would hardly be able to communicate in the language. And yes, I've heard that it has happened, but I've not heard too many details as to the exact circumstances under which this has happened. There's no way they can be drafting every US citizen of Korean descent that just happens to visit that country so there must be something else to it... | ||
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Sulli
Canada236 Posts
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Dr.Lettuce
United Kingdom663 Posts
To the OP, I'd suggest contacting some sort of Korean embassy and talking to them as I'm sure they will provide you with 100% truthful and reliable information. I'm sure the risk of it happening is quite small given your situation, but then again if it has happened in the past, history has a tendency to repeat itself and you would really not want to be one of the few exemplary cases. I'd do everything in your power to research it. Try PMing some of the korean nationals on this board as well. | ||
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HeartOfTofu
United States308 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:30 Sulli wrote: Are you just visiting Korea for a short time or do you plan to work there? If both your parents are Korean you would've been granted dual citizenship upon birth. If such is the case, as far as I know, you would've had to forfeit your Korean citizenship before you were 18 years old to be cleared of military service. Well, the plan would have been to go there just for a month or two for a vacation, really. | ||
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Kennigit
Canada19447 Posts
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BuGzlToOnl
United States5918 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:34 Kennigit wrote: GhostWriter is gone now | ||
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Sulli
Canada236 Posts
For instance, I was born in Montreal with dual Canadian/Korean citizenship but I made sure I forfeited my Korean citizenship before I was 18. I then visited Korea back when I was 18 or 19 for a month and had zero problems. I used my Canadian passport to enter Korea as a foreigner and used it when I returned. It looks like you're in that exact grey area where you can face problems during customs. | ||
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omfghi2u2
United States831 Posts
So like what everyone else has said, contact the korean embassy and forfeit your korean citizenship. | ||
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Sulli
Canada236 Posts
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1018.html Ctrl+F down to Dual Nationality (second search) It appears that for the U.S. you would've automatically lost your Korean citizenship upon birth. However, you have to check whether your name was registered in the Korean Family Relations Certificate. | ||
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ghostfighter
2 Posts
I didn't answer his second question but when I said "it's happened before", I was referring to the OP in that I was answering his question as to whether or not Koreans with U.S. citizenship have been taken into the army or not. I was corroborating what I heard with what he heard. I didn't elaborate, so obviously what I said could have been taken to mean something completely different. I'm not sure what you guys were going for, but I can see why you would think so. In any case BuGzlToOnl, your posts was just as uninformative as you thought mine were. | ||
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koreasilver
9109 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:18 Fontong wrote: It's ghostwriter. Normally you would expect him to insult too, so it's really an improvement. Too bad he went backwards from that improvement in this very thread even after getting banned. | ||
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vRoOk
United States1024 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:05 ghostWriter wrote: It's happened before. USER BANNED FOR THIS CRAP POST ahahahaha what a rape hohoho | ||
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Amnesia
United States3818 Posts
Your posting ain't that great either bud. @OP I heard stories about that, where when people go to Korea, the military is like waiting at the airport or something and take you to the army. That's some scary shit. But if you're an American citizen, can they still do that to you...? | ||
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LF9
United States537 Posts
On January 17 2010 06:34 Kennigit wrote: GhostWriter is gone now Can you explain why please? I didn't read his original post, but he must have said something pretty bad to warrant being banned, correct? | ||
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Amnesia
United States3818 Posts
On February 02 2010 07:54 LF9 wrote: Can you explain why please? I didn't read his original post, but he must have said something pretty bad to warrant being banned, correct? I'm pretty sure his original post was "It's happened before." | ||
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
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SanguineToss
Canada815 Posts
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kroko
Finland2136 Posts
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illu
Canada2531 Posts
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SanguineToss
Canada815 Posts
On February 02 2010 08:15 illu wrote: I don't think they'd really draft you, but you might have to spend some effort battling with them. ud be surprised | ||
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gnr9292
90 Posts
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Waffles
Romania605 Posts
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koreasilver
9109 Posts
On February 02 2010 08:45 Waffles wrote: But i think its very important that if you do go to korea and join the military. you loose your US. citizen ship No you don't. You only lose your US citizenship if you go into something other than the regular mandatory service forces. And would you want to suddenly get stuck in two years of forced military training in a country that you've never even lived in before? As for the getting-whisked-by-army-personnel-when-you-arrive-at-the-airport thing, I'm not entirely too sure how it goes. I know some people that actually got fucked like that, so you should really, really look into the laws carefully. I'm planning on voluntarily going in a couple of years so I've never looked into it, but since you don't want to go you have to be careful. | ||
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The6357
United States1268 Posts
anyways to be on the safe side...just call Korean Embassy in US and ask them what kind of paper work you need to submit extention for military service...they will ask for your greencard (not sure what they require for citizens) and korean family tree paper work. And you can dl the application form at the website. It is really simple form...just fill it out...reason for extention = work/school is perfect. takes about a few weeks for them to send you letter that your military service is put on hold till ur 35...then go to korea and watch some starcraft... to be honest...if u have citizenship and are using us passport...u won't even have to worry about it...tell them you are american. | ||
KwarK
United States44242 Posts
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BlueRoyaL
United States2493 Posts
On February 02 2010 08:45 Waffles wrote: i dont see why you wouldnt join the military. ive heard from many people its a good experience as long as youre not fighting on the front lines. there is a lot of communication teamwork and leadership involved. But i think its very important that if you do go to korea and join the military. you loose your US. citizen ship lol. i really have no idea what to say to this. The whole point of the op was because he doesn't want to get drafted for any reason, regardless of the pros and cons that go along with it. and to the op, i think it's already been said here more than a few times. Definitely the safest thing to do would be to contact the korean embassy and find out from a direct legitimate source. Not to say that what people are posting aren't credibly, but if it's possibly up to 1.5 years on the line, don't risk it. get the information you need from the people that really know what they're not talking about, they're not going to try ta hoax you into their millitary service -_- | ||
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Deleted User 37864
780 Posts
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The6357
United States1268 Posts
if i remember correctly you have to be between 18-25 (us age) to submit application | ||
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orgolove
Vatican City State1650 Posts
Do not enter military service in Korea. | ||
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haster27
Taiwan809 Posts
On February 02 2010 07:54 Amnesia wrote: Your posting ain't that great either bud. @OP I heard stories about that, where when people go to Korea, the military is like waiting at the airport or something and take you to the army. That's some scary shit. But if you're an American citizen, can they still do that to you...? Sounds like what one would hear on the top of newspaper headlines, "Three American Citizens Forcibly Kidnapped by South Korean Government Military" Edit: And yes, I definitely do not recommend Korean military service, and this is from eight-teen-year old Korean university student who is researching this shit in case of worst contingencies. | ||
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haduken
Australia8267 Posts
I mean do you even have a Korean passport? If all you have is your American passport, change your name will probably mean that the Koreans can't trace you even if you don't change just say you are Chinese or something. I find it hard to believe that they can track some one down just via the name consider how many Asians have the same names. | ||
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DreaM)XeRO
Korea (South)4667 Posts
unless you're a korean citizen you cant get drafted | ||
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LF9
United States537 Posts
On another note, I have yet to receive an answer as to why that random poster was banned for a seemingly innocuous post. | ||
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DreaM)XeRO
Korea (South)4667 Posts
On February 03 2010 04:37 LF9 wrote: I am pretty sure there are laws against drafting an American citizen into a foreign military regardless; a call to the USA embassy would probably suffice to bail you out should the worst happen. On another note, I have yet to receive an answer as to why that random poster was banned for a seemingly innocuous post. ghostwriter is a forum veteran he must've insulted one of the mod's very deeply | ||
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haster27
Taiwan809 Posts
On February 03 2010 04:37 LF9 wrote: I am pretty sure there are laws against drafting an American citizen into a foreign military regardless; a call to the USA embassy would probably suffice to bail you out should the worst happen. On another note, I have yet to receive an answer as to why that random poster was banned for a seemingly innocuous post. Previously banned user, the automatic ban thread decrees. | ||
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kOre
Canada3642 Posts
I know that Americans are allowed dual with an American + Korean citizenship but in Canada you can only have one or the other and now I have a Canadian one. So all in all, you can always pay to get out of it if you still have your Korean citizenship. | ||
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peacenl
550 Posts
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popnfreshspk
United States93 Posts
I know it can happen since I have to deal with the same thing with the dual Taiwan/US citizenship thing, though military service in Taiwan is cakewalk compared to the beating the Koreans give. | ||
lilsusie
3861 Posts
On February 03 2010 06:24 kOre wrote: My parents paid and I got out of having to join the military when I went to visit Korea. Not sure how much it was exactly, but it was when I still had a Korean citizenship. I know that Americans are allowed dual with an American + Korean citizenship but in Canada you can only have one or the other and now I have a Canadian one. So all in all, you can always pay to get out of it if you still have your Korean citizenship. Wrong, Americans cannot have dual citizenship. If you have both it's because one govt doesn't know about the other. Legally, it's not possible. You need to check first, if you have a Korean ID number (주민등록증). If you don't have one, then you are NOT registered as Korean, thus you're fine. If you do and the name is the same name you have on your US passport, then they might detain you too. If the name on your US passport is different from your Korean name, then you are fine to come in strictly as an American for 30 days. (That's max amount of days you can stay without any tourist visa). You can also come to Korea and denounce your Korean citizenship and just get an F4 visa (green card, basically) and so then you'd just be a foreign national. | ||
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Wist
2 Posts
On February 03 2010 10:50 lilsusie wrote: Wrong, Americans cannot have dual citizenship. If you have both it's because one govt doesn't know about the other. Legally, it's not possible. Sorry, I know this doesn't directly relate to the topic at hand, but this isn't true. While this obviously has no bearing on Korean nationality law (with which I am unfamiliar), it's perfectly legal (or, at least not at all illegal) for a US citizen to hold dual citizenship in most cases. This is upheld by multiple Supreme Court decisions, most directly and famously 7 FAM 1162 (which I can't find a copy of, but this article from usa.gov confirms the legality of dual citizenship for US citizens, both born and naturalized). | ||
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lilsusie
3861 Posts
On February 03 2010 14:24 Wist wrote: Sorry, I know this doesn't directly relate to the topic at hand, but this isn't true. While this obviously has no bearing on Korean nationality law (with which I am unfamiliar), it's perfectly legal (or, at least not at all illegal) for a US citizen to hold dual citizenship in most cases. This is upheld by multiple Supreme Court decisions, most directly and famously 7 FAM 1162 (which I can't find a copy of, but this article from usa.gov confirms the legality of dual citizenship for US citizens, both born and naturalized). It's Korea who doesn't allow it. Not America. | ||
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Patriot.dlk
Sweden5462 Posts
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Foucault
Sweden2826 Posts
"DUAL NATIONALITY: The Government of the Republic of Korea does not recognize dual citizenship. Men must choose a single nationality by March 31 of the year they turn 18 years old, and women by the age of 21. If men do not select a nationality by that date, the Korean government will consider them to have chosen Korean nationality, and they will be obligated to serve duty in the Korean military. Conversely, women who do not choose a nationality by age 21 will be considered to have lost their Korean nationality." Really weird about the different age for men and women. Seems arbitrary as hell | ||
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Conquest101
United States1395 Posts
On February 03 2010 22:08 Foucault wrote: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1018.html "DUAL NATIONALITY: The Government of the Republic of Korea does not recognize dual citizenship. Men must choose a single nationality by March 31 of the year they turn 18 years old, and women by the age of 21. If men do not select a nationality by that date, the Korean government will consider them to have chosen Korean nationality, and they will be obligated to serve duty in the Korean military. Conversely, women who do not choose a nationality by age 21 will be considered to have lost their Korean nationality." Really weird about the different age for men and women. Seems arbitrary as hell I like how they keep the men, but the women can just GTFO apparently. And yes, I understand it's how many Asian cultures are. I'm Chinese and happy that I was born as a guy. Bullet dodged. It's still funny though. I'm sure there's a way to forfeit your Korean citizenship though. I am 100% behind the advice to contact a Korean embassy/gov't office or even someone with the US citizenship offices or something. They should be able to help you in some way or other. | ||
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d_so
Korea (South)3262 Posts
basically they (at the immigration office) told me that ii had to have renounced my dual citizenship (if i had had one) by the time i was 18. if not, korean conscription policies still apply and i wouldh ave had to spent two years in the korean army. are u sure you're on the family registry? | ||
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Damian
Germany335 Posts
+ Show Spoiler + In principle, all Korean males between the age of 18 and 35 are subject to the Korean military duty. Males with dual citizenships who are registered in the Korean Family Registrar are required to fulfill their military obligations, unless they postpone or obtain exemption before they reach the age of 18. Koreans who acquired the US citizenship by naturalization are not considered dual citizens; they are US citizens not subject to the Korean military duty. According to the Korean Nationality Act, those who have obtained foreign citizenships by naturalization automatically lose their Korean citizenships. Only those who acquired their foreign citizenships by birth are able to have dual citizenships until the age of 22, at which time they are required to choose a nationality. In addition, all Korean males who were born in the US to Korean parents but are not registered in the Korean Family Registrar are not subject to the military duty. For Korean males who have obtained US citizenships by birth and are registered in the Korean Family Registrar must either postpone the military duty or renounce the Korean nationality before they reach 18. In order to avoid the imposition of the military duty, all postponements should be made before January 15 of the year they turn the age of 18, whereas renouncements must be made before March 31 of the year they turn 18. The following dual citizens are eligible to postpone the military duty until the age of 35, after which they obtain full exemption: - Those who reside in the US with parents with US citizenships - Those who have resided in the US with parents since the age of 17 - Those who have resided in the US for 10 consecutive years (parents should not reside in the Republic of Korea) For the purpose of proving the intention of permanent residency, all dual citizens subject to the military duty must submit documents, such as a copy of their parents' permanent residency cards (Green cards), proof of their parents' US citizenships, or the proof of their parents' application for permanent residency or US citizenship, when they apply for the renouncement of dual citizenship. For further information on the registration process of the loss of Korean nationality, please check the website of the Korean Consulate General in each area according by its jurisdiction. You are perfectly fine I guess... CASE SOLVED ! | ||
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